meaty

comparative meatier · superlative meatiest

1. Of, relating to, or containing meat.

   In the early years of this century most Americans did not question the meaty, starchy, saladless national diet.

   1993, Helen Nearing, Loving and Leaving the Good Life, page 26

2. Resembling meat in flavour, smell, etc.

   This tastes rather meaty. Are you sure it's vegetarian?

   3 more examples

   "He's a foreign-looking guy with thinnish black hair and a meaty sort of pan."

   1946, George Johnston, Skyscrapers in the Mist, page 121

   The warm, comforting, meaty smell of khorovadz drifted into the café from a stall on the pavement; the quiet mutters that had till then passed for conversation in the café began to buzz with passion and interest.

   2016, Rask Balavoine, “Ararat”, in John Wilks, editor, ABCtales 2008 Omnibus, page 114

   The slightly sulfurous, meaty odor of morels attracts flies, which lay eggs in the safety of the mushroom's hollow stalk.

   2006, Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma, The Penguin Press, →ISBN, page 388

   Synonyms: fleshy

3. Of a person or a body part, large and solid.

   When he tried to extract the liver, which should have been firm and meaty, it deliquesced into a bloody sludge, sliding goopily through his fingers.

   2020 December, Tim Folger, “North America’s most valuable resource is at risk”, in National Geographic Magazine

   2 more examples

   The whole, long, thick, meaty shaft of it quivered as if eager to dispel my mouth. Odor assailed me, too – my brother, like so many soldiers, not being overly fastidious in matters of personal hygiene. "All right, my little whoreling," he commanded, [...]

   2002, Jean Marie Stine, Trans-Sexual - Page 68

   There’s nothing worse than having cashed out the college fund so that Mom and Dad and Buddy and Sis can afford airfare to Wally World, only to find out that they are additionally facing bag fees and snack fees, and soon enough, there will likely be a fee to have the 350-pound man sausaged next to Sis in the middle seat keep his meaty elbows out of her ribcage.

   2017 December 25, “The Scrapbook: A Surcharge on the Charge, Sir”, in The Weekly Standard, volume 23, number 16, page 2, column 1

   Synonyms: bulky, chunky, muscular, solid, stocky

4. Substantial.

   I got a nice, meaty bonus.

   3 more examples

   He scored a meaty role in the film, with plenty of action and dialogue.

   I’ve always played my class – either working-class characters or ones where it’s not been mentioned – so this was quite scary. It’s also a meaty part. I’ve never had this many lines in a play.

   2023 August 13, Michael Hogan, quoting Susan Wokoma, “Actor Susan Wokoma: ‘We all want to be married to Emma Thompson, don’t we?’”, in The Observer

   Alexander-Arnold had a few nice moments on the ball before the interval. He also had a bad one when his loose touch allowed Zivkovic to supply Mitrovic for a meaty drive that flew wide.

   2024 June 16, David Hytner, “Jude Bellingham gives England winning start but Serbia make Southgate sweat”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: substantial